Rookie impressions thread: PRESEASON/REGULAR SEASON

[Big Jaffa]

Crabbe got some minutes tonight. Played well, hit 2/3 3 point shots, moved off the ball well, passed within the team offensive system as in, didn't hold the ball not knowing what to do but kept it flowing.

He'll never be a ball handling guy but he can be a prototypical 3 n D guy. He's got Wes to learn from and that's as good as anyone.

[wichmae]

Considering Giannis literally just turned 19 this week (2nd youngest player in all of professional sports behind some hockey dude) and the sky is literally the limit. A better offensive prime Marion is the best comparison I could think of.

[dautjazz]

Trey Burke had 20pts 2rbs 5asts 2tos, shooting 9/18 vs the Spurs tonight. He held Parker to 15/5/7, shooting just 6/15. Jazz lost, it's ok I expected it, but happy about Burke continuing to outplay PGs around the league like Isiaah Thomas, Ty Lawson, and now even Parker.

[dautjazz]

If I would redo the draft today (not looking at team fit):

1. Michael Carter Williams
2. Victor Oladipo
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4. Trey Burke
5. Ben McLemore
6. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
7. Steven Adams
8. Nerlens Noel
9. Alex Len
10. Cody Zeller
11. Kelly Olynik
12. Tony Snell
13. Tim Hardaway Jr.
14. Nate Wolters
15. Shane Larkin
16. Mason Plumlee
17. Rudy Gobert
18. Gorgui Deng

Rest have been awful (Bennet), Porter is hard to rank because he hasn't played extensively or I don't know enough/haven't played enough for me to be able to rank them.

Giannis over Burke? Burke is averaging 15ppg 4.4rpg 7.2apg 1.8to .2bpg .8spg over 33.8mpg in his last 5. His shooting has been very bad from the field all season, though he is shooting exceptionally well from the line. Last 3 games for Giannis have been decent, but he hasn't really done a thing that has contributed in any wins, while Utah is 5-9 with Burke (5-6 in the last 11), were 1-11 before Burke.

[breakchains]

Considering Giannis literally just turned 19 this week (2nd youngest player in all of professional sports behind some hockey dude) and the sky is literally the limit. A better offensive prime Marion is the best comparison I could think of.

don't like that comparison at all. Doesn't take into account his handle, vision, and PG instincts, as well as his insane length. You can't really make a comparison for him, he's an incredibly unique player. If there was a re-draft today he would be the no-brainer #1.

[Baddy Chuck]

Giannis over Burke? Burke is averaging 15ppg 4.4rpg 7.2apg 1.8to .2bpg .8spg over 33.8mpg in his last 5. His shooting has been very bad from the field all season, though he is shooting exceptionally well from the line. Last 3 games for Giannis have been decent, but he hasn't really done a thing that has contributed in any wins, while Utah is 5-9 with Burke (5-6 in the last 11), were 1-11 before Burke.

Giannis also has much less touches, much better efficiency and is 2 years younger but you know, opinions be damned and all.

[wichmae]

Considering Giannis literally just turned 19 this week (2nd youngest player in all of professional sports behind some hockey dude) and the sky is literally the limit. A better offensive prime Marion is the best comparison I could think of.

don't like that comparison at all. Doesn't take into account his handle, vision, and PG instincts, as well as his insane length. You can't really make a comparison for him, he's an incredibly unique player. If there was a re-draft today he would be the no-brainer #1.

IM a big fan of him but you have homer glasses on brother. Just like the dude who said Burke would go over GA.

[Juggynaut]

Tim Hardaway JR is impressing as of late, #5 on NBA's rookie ladder. 2nd highest FG% among rookies. Highest 3PT% among rookies and top 3 PER among rookies.

[breakchains]

Considering Giannis literally just turned 19 this week (2nd youngest player in all of professional sports behind some hockey dude) and the sky is literally the limit. A better offensive prime Marion is the best comparison I could think of.

don't like that comparison at all. Doesn't take into account his handle, vision, and PG instincts, as well as his insane length. You can't really make a comparison for him, he's an incredibly unique player. If there was a re-draft today he would be the no-brainer #1.

IM a big fan of him but you have homer glasses on brother. Just like the dude who said Burke would go over GA.

What part of what I said makes me have homer glasses on? Saying your comparison of Giannis to Marion was off, or that he'd be the #1 pick in a re-draft? Neither of those statements are homerish. Other observers who aren't fans of the Bucks have expressed similar sentiment, and Giannis is just starting to get playing time. This will not be a controversial statement soon.

[wichmae]

don't like that comparison at all. Doesn't take into account his handle, vision, and PG instincts, as well as his insane length. You can't really make a comparison for him, he's an incredibly unique player. If there was a re-draft today he would be the no-brainer #1.

IM a big fan of him but you have homer glasses on brother. Just like the dude who said Burke would go over GA.

What part of what I said makes me have homer glasses on?

Burke is a decent play but there is zero chance he can do what a guy like GA can. Trey is Jason Terry 2.0. Again, if you literally look at what GA has done as an 18 year old playing sparingly (which isnt GA's fault) versus Burke who has played the third most minutes in the NBA as a rook, with 12 ppg, 5 ast and a PER of 15. Who has a USG%of 23 with .65 WS. Versus someone two years yonger, doesnt start, players 11 mins less a game. 6 pts, 4 rbds and shoots above 50%. Vastly lower usg and higher WS. The info is out there. You just have to look. You think if UTA called MIL and offered a straight up deal MIL does it? Not a chance.

[Greek]

Jumping from the 15 spot to the top 3 of almost anyone here for me is good enough. He has plenty of time to prove that he worthed more.

For now i just enjoy to watch one so unique player growing to a star hopefully...

[H2tObes]

Burke over Giannis is a joke. You can make an argument for Oladipo over Giannis but thats about it for this draft so far.

Giannis actually has a solid chance of being a star, unlike almost anyone else from this draft as of now. That's what you take account in a redraft this early in the season

Pointing out Giannis flat numbers is irrelevant, just watch him play ffs
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiCcWSbtunM[/youtube]
He does **** like this every game. He turned 19 last week. He's an actual physical freak...enough said. find 2 game videos of his on youtube and tell me you arent blown away

[bizarro]

IM a big fan of him but you have homer glasses on brother. Just like the dude who said Burke would go over GA.

What part of what I said makes me have homer glasses on?

Burke is a decent play but there is zero chance he can do what a guy like GA can. Trey is Jason Terry 2.0. Again, if you literally look at what GA has done as an 18 year old playing sparingly (which isnt GA's fault) versus Burke who has played the third most minutes in the NBA as a rook, with 12 ppg, 5 ast and a PER of 15. Who has a USG%of 23 with .65 WS. Versus someone two years yonger, doesnt start, players 11 mins less a game. 6 pts, 4 rbds and shoots above 50%. Vastly lower usg and higher WS. The info is out there. You just have to look. You think if UTA called MIL and offered a straight up deal MIL does it? Not a chance.

I'm going to be the 'neutral' party to clear this up for y'all:

Chains is saying the Giannis comparison to Matrix isn't accurate - i.e. Giannis is more a freak, particularly w/ his PG skills and vision. He isn't talking about Burke. Burke is a nice rookie. He's surprised with how well he's performed. But, as you astutely point out, he's nowhere near the potential player Giannis is. What Burke does is valuable, yes, but no GM in their right mind would pass up Giannis for Burke. No way.

Let's add some choice clips for y'all:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHYJvkCrncE[/youtube]

Ooooooh, a little more:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWcEAhdPELM[/youtube]

And, for safety measures:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecEMecjeVxM[/youtube]


In the first highlight you see Giannis' amazing body control and fluidity for a man his size (He's almost 7' and, by the time he's done, he may get there. He'll probably fall just short at around 6'11"). In the above clip watch his body control around 0:50 seconds. The hesitation he uses to avoid the foul and the consequent block - unreal athleticism. Then, at 1:15 you see it again. He uses his length and athleticism to poke away a steal; runs the length; and keeps the ball out of harm's way with his skill and length for an incredible dunk. He's the real deal. He's the youngest player in the league. As Bucks fans, considering what we've experienced the last decade and, most recently with the Tobias trade, we've found our Obi Wan Kenobi: He's our only hope

[MountainDrew]

I agree that Giannis has the highest ceiling of all rookies in this class, but he has no chance for ROY this season. Any bucks fans ever thought of the possibility that the reason Larry Drew isn't giving the rook playing time is because he's not ready for it? He played in the Greek 2nd division last season, do you really think he is ready to play 36 minutes a night in the NBA without getting injured/have a huge dropoff in effectiveness? Drew is doing the right thing in limiting his minutes and easing him into the nba.

Also, Giannis isn't the "no brainer number 1 pick". Yes, he has great potential, but we've seen this before. Potential doesn't always mean you will fulfill it. I will say that he has a good character and work ethic from what I've seen and heard, but at this point, the production that other rookies have shown so far (who also have good potential in MCW and Oladipo) is worth more than the potential of Giannis.

Whenever a rookie is in the allstar discussions, like MCW, he's doing a fantastic job. I admit that I am a sixer fan and a MCW homer, but you can't ignore the potential that he has. He's 6'6, with a 41 inch vertical, great passing skills, he's clutch (@cleveland, vs Miami, Chicago etc.), makes his teammates infinitely better (Evan Turner), has already shown very good improvement on his jumpshot and has a good attitude. Not to mention leading the league in steals and having the tools to be a shutdown defender at both the 1 and the 2. I mean, this guy has the makings of an elite point guard, you're not telling me that you would honestly take a project over that Production and Potential.

[SOUL]

I feel happy for Bucks fans since they had to go through so much just to get (and keep) a decent young player.

I think there needs to be some tweaking in the collective temperament of the expectations of how Giannis will do, where he should've been drafted, etc.

Why not let it just play out? The kid has insane potential. Will he reach it? I hope so. Is it possible he doesn't reach it? Of course, but that's the case with every rookie. I mean not a week ago he has 9 min game with nothing to show for it. 14 mins with 3/2. As has the whole rookie draft, throwing up clunkers now and then. Can't really overreact either way, but you SEE what he has which makes him really intriguing. Comparing him to Shawn is not a diss at all and obviously other than his **** up shot, I can see it.

21/9/2/2/1.5 is nothing to sneeze at.

Re-drafts are fun but it's useless 2 months into the season.

FWIW, I think he should be a top 5 pick this year. I'm extremely happy with Oladipo. Cleveland and Washington both would've probably preferred Giannis.

[Ayt]

Comparing him to Marion certainly isn't a diss, it just is not a good comparison given Giannis' handle and playmaking potential.

[wichmae]

Comparing him to Marion certainly isn't a diss, it just is not a good comparison given Giannis' handle and playmaking potential.

Ill amend my opinion. Ill say a hybrid of Grant Hill and Marion. I dont think there is another player to have played with his skillset.

ETA: what he can do with the ball on the court and his body control is unheard of. Im not comparing him to LeBron at all what-so-ever but his ability to move and coordination for how big and young his is is just surreal.

[rockmanslim]

Interesting that Giannis is only 2 months older than tank target Wiggins, and looks more skilled and has better feel for the game than Wiggins imo. Although if you've actually watched Wiggins play this season, that's not saying much, so maybe that's not all that much of a compliment. Still though, GIannis is very intriguing.

[ReasonablySober]

I agree that Giannis has the highest ceiling of all rookies in this class, but he has no chance for ROY this season. Any bucks fans ever thought of the possibility that the reason Larry Drew isn't giving the rook playing time is because he's not ready for it? He played in the Greek 2nd division last season, do you really think he is ready to play 36 minutes a night in the NBA without getting injured/have a huge dropoff in effectiveness? Drew is doing the right thing in limiting his minutes and easing him into the nba.

Also, Giannis isn't the "no brainer number 1 pick". Yes, he has great potential, but we've seen this before. Potential doesn't always mean you will fulfill it. I will say that he has a good character and work ethic from what I've seen and heard, but at this point, the production that other rookies have shown so far (who also have good potential in MCW and Oladipo) is worth more than the potential of Giannis.

Whenever a rookie is in the allstar discussions, like MCW, he's doing a fantastic job. I admit that I am a sixer fan and a MCW homer, but you can't ignore the potential that he has. He's 6'6, with a 41 inch vertical, great passing skills, he's clutch (@cleveland, vs Miami, Chicago etc.), makes his teammates infinitely better (Evan Turner), has already shown very good improvement on his jumpshot and has a good attitude. Not to mention leading the league in steals and having the tools to be a shutdown defender at both the 1 and the 2. I mean, this guy has the makings of an elite point guard, you're not telling me that you would honestly take a project over that Production and Potential.

He's probably the Bucks 1st or 2nd best player right now, so nope.

[MountainDrew]

He's probably the Bucks 1st or 2nd best player right now, so nope.

That says a lot more about the bucks than about Antetokounmpo